The Peace Boat Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassador Programme will bring youth leaders from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the front line of climate change and marine degradation to travel onboard Peace Boat's ship, engaging in capacity building and bringing their message to citizens and government representatives through the voyage.

The youth will embark upon Peace Boat's 95th Voyage in Europe in September 2017. There, they will connect with civil society and governments in ports visited, including Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Iceland. Participants will give testimony of their experiences and the impact of climate change and marine degradation on their communities, highlight the outcomes of The Ocean Conference and create a Youth Call for Action.

Their voyage will end as Peace Boat docks in New York in October 2017, where the youth ambassadors will report on their efforts to both the United Nations community and the broader public. This will be a highlight of the events held in New York for the 95th Voyage.

From the Ocean Conference Towards COP23
The programme will take place soon after the Ocean Conference at the United Nations in June, and directly before COP 23 in November 2017. Participants will take the messages and outcomes of the Ocean Conference with them as they travel, and their experiences and Youth Call to Action will be documented and shared widely at COP 23 and beyond.

Programme Aims and Content
The programme will bring together eight youth from Small Island Developing States. Onboard the ship, the youth will engage in capacity building and education programmes, on topics including media skills, campaigning and negotiation. The time onboard will also be an opportunity to share experiences amongst each other, building alliances with youth from other islands facing similar issues and therefore strengthening capacity for empowerment and action.

Main areas of focus for the programme are:
Creating a community/network of youth from geographically distant islands, sharing similar concerns and challenges
Capacity building for the youth to share experiences and best practices and fulfil roles as leaders in their communities
Media training consider the role of and how to utilise the media in strategies for climate action and achieving SDGs (including social media)
Interaction on both formal and informal basis with other participants onboard Peace Boat, on ocean, climate change and sustainability related issues
Increase public awareness of the challenges faced by small island states, and the efforts made by youth and communities there to take action
Make a call to world leaders and the energy industry to commit to moving away from fossil fuels and to finance a just transition towards renewable energy

Progress reports

November 2017

COP23 at Bonn

October 2017

Presentation of Youth Call to Action in New York: Report on the programme to both the United Nations community and the broader public

October 2017

Public Outreach and Awareness Raising in Europe: In ports of call visited throughout Europe, the youth from SIDS will give testimony regarding their experiences of the devastating effects of ocean degradation and climate change. This will form a powerful call to action. These experiences will be shared with both government and civil society representatives, as well as disseminated widely via social and traditional media. List of ports: Barcelona (Sept 22) Initial contact and orientation for all programme participants. Presentation of the programme to the media. Lisbon (Sept 25) Propose cooperation to Portugal mission at UN (co-facilitator of prep meeting) London (Oct 1) - Climate Coalition, possibly through Oxfam Edinburgh (Oct 3) - Scottish parliament - combined with Hibakusha Programme. Reykjavik (Oct 8) Event with Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.